How much do you typically pay per army builder? You're looking at it from a "I can't sell the stuff I don't want"-point of view. Whether you WANT to sell it or not, it would be much cheaper if you did.

And, if you like Army Builders, you were in luck that the club didn't set a non-member price for the MOTH sets. Three of them are army builders (whether they admit it or not).

-Kevin

I think I got the chickee Dark Stalker group for @$13-15 a pop with the leader being @$21. I ended up with 8 of the Darkstalker troops and 1 leader. I wanted a team of 6 and used 2 of the 3 extra already for "Vypra Twin" customs.

The Moth packs were way overpriced and since I was already a member it made no difference there and yet I bought 3 of each Army Building set.

I don't look at it from a "I can't sell the stuff I don't want" point of view b/c I I don't want to bother selling anything. Fortunately I am loaded so the selling part isn't an issue and isn't worth it. This isn't to brag but to delineate between me having to sell and just not wanting to bother with all the crap that usually corresponds with selling. Now, knowing that cash isn't an issue I still would feel like an idiot for what, in my own feeling, is wasting money. Of course I probably am wasting money by keeping up with this collection of mine but I still wouldn't drop $20 for someone's "Action Attack" Duke figure they were trying to offload.

I didn't make my money on bad deals to begin with

As for Wave 4, member or non-member will be an interesting one. If being a member gets you no discount on those then it really seems to suck across the board for my renewal doesn't it? If having to be a member to buy them is the only way to get them...well, still sucks.

As for Wave 4, member or non-member will be an interesting one. If being a member gets you no discount on those then it really seems to suck across the board for my renewal doesn't it? If having to be a member to buy them is the only way to get them...well, still sucks.

Not exactly sure why it would "suck"... Hasbro had no intention of releasing these figures. Much like with this past years TF-Con set. Even though it was highly desirable items, they were produced by the club.

As for Wave 4, member or non-member will be an interesting one. If being a member gets you no discount on those then it really seems to suck across the board for my renewal doesn't it? If having to be a member to buy them is the only way to get them...well, still sucks.

Not exactly sure why it would "suck"... Hasbro had no intention of releasing these figures. Much like with this past years TF-Con set. Even though it was highly desirable items, they were produced by the club.

-Kevin

Sucks because you know they are going to be waaayyy expensive (which sort of doubly sucks b/c Hasbro had no other way apparently to release these, I don't blame MC for anything other than the price here). Sucks because I don't see membership giving me a discount (besides the cost of the the membership itself). Sucks because I will most likely buy them anyway (lack of self control I guess) which you could easily argue the other way, granted, but being a pessimist when it comes to MC I think "sucks" sums it up best.

Look, I realize you probably see more value than I do and I am glad you do, really. You tend to have a better outlook on these things then I do and that is a good thing. I just find myself on the other end of the spectrum in actually wishing MC didn't get the Wave 4 molds and the other cancelled figures as I, for my own selfish reasons, wouldn't feel the need to collect them and shell out the associated $$$. I personally hate small production numbers because it bugs me that the average Joe (no pun intended) can't collect them due to over inflated costs. I already stated I can afford it but I actually feel bad for the number of enthusiasts that can't. I think it greatly diminishes the "fun" as it were and becomes a "haves" vs. "have nots" routine. So in the end the suckatude only goes up along with the price and the lack of disposable income I suppose.

I don't collect Star Wars or Transformers but from what I read here they seem to get stuck in the same sort of rut.
I will say this for this whole argument, it has made for a lively discussion

Sucks because you know they are going to be waaayyy expensive (which sort of doubly sucks b/c Hasbro had no other way apparently to release these, I don't blame MC for anything other than the price here). Sucks because I don't see membership giving me a discount (besides the cost of the the membership itself). Sucks because I will most likely buy them anyway (lack of self control I guess) which you could easily argue the other way, granted, but being a pessimist when it comes to MC I think "sucks" sums it up best.

Define way expensive? I'm perfectly willing to pay $8 per figure from Wave 4, due to small production runs, and the changes the GIJCC is going to make per our requests. I would also not object to them making 4x as many army builders as actual unique characters, because we all know they will sell better, and I wouldn't object to having five, ten or twenty night vipers, and five total Officers.

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Look, I realize you probably see more value than I do and I am glad you do, really. You tend to have a better outlook on these things then I do and that is a good thing. I just find myself on the other end of the spectrum in actually wishing MC didn't get the Wave 4 molds and the other cancelled figures as I, for my own selfish reasons, wouldn't feel the need to collect them and shell out the associated $$$. I personally hate small production numbers because it bugs me that the average Joe (no pun intended) can't collect them due to over inflated costs. I already stated I can afford it but I actually feel bad for the number of enthusiasts that can't. I think it greatly diminishes the "fun" as it were and becomes a "haves" vs. "have nots" routine. So in the end the suckatude only goes up along with the price and the lack of disposable income I suppose.

I actually find very little "real value" in being a member, aside from reading the newsletter and figure. I can buy the same product for the same price via e-bay, or online retailers if lucky. But I have never gone that route unless the GIJCC has been sold out on the item I wanted (02 Con set is the only example so far). Their forums are entertaining when the leadership of the GIJCC attempts to answer questions w/o giving away product.

As far as the "haves" vs. "have nots," isn't that what collecting is all about? You HAVE the collection, others don't... If you HAVE NOT got a piece which you feel is vital, you will go and get said piece. Eventually it will be in the price range you're willing to pay (however long that'll take).

If you don't have the disposable income (which I know you do, this is a general statement), why are you buying G.I.Joes in the first place? If you don't have enough to purchase all of the product that you want, and can only buy pieces, buy that which will be hardest to find again first... (i.e. DTC wave 4 if it sells out through MC, and any army builders/variants released if you want them.)

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I don't collect Star Wars or Transformers but from what I read here they seem to get stuck in the same sort of rut.
I will say this for this whole argument, it has made for a lively discussion

I don't collect any other lines either, but I think every toy collector falls here. As Ken said in another thread, "Toy collectors always want the item for as cheap as possible." And that is very true. I consider myself cheap. (Other collectors don't consider me that way... Just ask anyone who saw what I bought at the Con over the years.)

Define way expensive? I'm perfectly willing to pay $8 per figure from Wave 4, due to small production runs, and the changes the GIJCC is going to make per our requests. I would also not object to them making 4x as many army builders as actual unique characters, because we all know they will sell better, and I wouldn't object to having five, ten or twenty night vipers, and five total Officers.
-Kevin

Oh yeah, I don't think $8 is too high at all but do you think they will be $8? Let me know if you heard this b/c I will quite happy to eat crow if they are only $8. I said it sucks b/c they will be way expensive thinking the figures will be $20 a pop. But $8/pop will have me singing MC's praises. I would be shocked, pleasantly so. The track record for individual figures at MC has been more than $20 a hit.

Define way expensive? I'm perfectly willing to pay $8 per figure from Wave 4, due to small production runs, and the changes the GIJCC is going to make per our requests. I would also not object to them making 4x as many army builders as actual unique characters, because we all know they will sell better, and I wouldn't object to having five, ten or twenty night vipers, and five total Officers.
-Kevin

Oh yeah, I don't think $8 is too high at all but do you think they will be $8? Let me know if you heard this b/c I will quite happy to eat crow if they are only $8. I said it sucks b/c they will be way expensive thinking the figures will be $20 a pop. But $8/pop will have me singing MC's praises. I would be shocked, pleasantly so. The track record for individual figures at MC has been more than $20 a hit.

That track record also involves the time they spent hunting down the molds, for various frankenstein figures, as well as paint apps over and over. Here, the mold is already to go, with just a tweaking of colors for a character or two (Falcon!), and the card art's already prepared as well. All around, Hasbro foot the bill for half the cost already...

That track record also involves the time they spent hunting down the molds, for various frankenstein figures, as well as paint apps over and over. Here, the mold is already to go, with just a tweaking of colors for a character or two (Falcon!), and the card art's already prepared as well. All around, Hasbro foot the bill for half the cost already...

-Kevin

I'm holding you to that...

I hope you are right though as I would like to buy many. So I am holding my breathe an crossing my fingers.

When people realize there are other benefits to joining the GIJCC this arguement will stop.

If you have any interest in Con-items, you're getting them for a much cheaper price, which are only available through the GIJCC unless you turn to the secondary market, or like paying a huge mark up.

-Kevin

That's sort of the issue I have. I get no extra benefit from the club. I get the Con-Items I want from eBay typically b/c I really don't want all the figures (typically just the troop builders) and it isn't worth an estimated price of $20+ a figure when half are destined for my junk bin. Maybe there would be value in a Troop Builder only version (although I am sure the price would double on those making it not worth it).

Not a great argument for joining obviously for many, especially when you have to join if you want to order the other packs and exclusives to the club. My method has been to always seek out the HK dealers first although lately that hasn't been so fruitful. But back to my original issue, I can't seem to find anything compelling outside of the "free" figure to justify my $42. Having said that I will be forking out my $42 for said figure . I will though, hold a serious grudge. Maybe a reasonably priced Wave 4 DTC will turn my world around but after last years' sets I am not holding my breath.

Kinda what I was thinking. If you want the "most benefit" you almost HAVE to buy EVERYTHING just to get it.

(Not much I can say until Wave 4 hits)

How much do you typically pay per army builder? You're looking at it from a "I can't sell the stuff I don't want"-point of view. Whether you WANT to sell it or not, it would be much cheaper if you did.

And, if you like Army Builders, you were in luck that the club didn't set a non-member price for the MOTH sets. Three of them are army builders (whether they admit it or not).

-Kevin

I rarely sell stuff unless I have extras TO sell so your "your looking at it form a "I can't sell the stuff I don't want"-point of view" is meaningless.

The most I have ever spent on an army builder was $30. That was for the expensive "hard to get" stuff like CGI or Cobra vehicle drivers.

These are expensive because of mark up, not because they are particularly hard to get like 10-20 year old POPULAR items.

I'd guess I average around $10 for army builders (including the "hard" ones). Master Collector figures are NOT $10 a figures. Yes, I understand all the other costs involved but you CANNOT tell me they aren't making a hefty profit.

Ouchie! Kev is sportin' the shield for the club today. I hope you got your flame-proof nomex undies on.

For everyone else: People either hate the club or love the club....there is very few in the middle ground.

I vote apathetic for myself. The club and what it does is a nifty idea, but I also don't need or want any of their exclusives so I find no reason to be bitter towards the prices. Of course I'm frugal (could just say cheap). I walked around the Con pissing off all kinds of vendors because I rolled my eyes at their 'deals'. I refused to buy vehicles for $20-$50 when I was unfortunate to miss them on the HTS for $8 a few months earlier.

Ouchie! Kev is sportin' the shield for the club today. I hope you got your flame-proof nomex undies on.

For everyone else: People either hate the club or love the club....there is very few in the middle ground.

I vote apathetic for myself. The club and what it does is a nifty idea, but I also don't need or want any of their exclusives so I find no reason to be bitter towards the prices. Of course I'm frugal (could just say cheap). I walked around the Con pissing off all kinds of vendors because I rolled my eyes at their 'deals'. I refused to buy vehicles for $20-$50 when I was unfortunate to miss them on the HTS for $8 a few months earlier.

At the Con I wouldn't purchase anything that isn't from RAHC or earlier. The rest of the stuff has been readily available at retail price or cheaper, or I have the item already and anything else is a waste of my time/money.

My personal view on the club is that they're giving us (to some degree), what we want, 3 3/4" Joes with the older molds, reimagined. And they're not doing a bad job with it.

As far as them making a "hefty profit," when factories do production runs of 20,000 to 30,000 and then a run of 1,000, how much do you think each run costs?

Gary, just expressing my opinions. (Have internet access at work here, so I read, and post my feelings now instead of reading and saying "oh well, maybe they'll figure it out.")

Joe, you can join now, or March 1st.... Just have to have membership in the GIJCC by March 15th I think it is.

Ccav, see you there. (Even if you don't go to the con, you can order the non-attending set.)